Driven by Roland's newest proprietary digital processing technology, the GR-55 delivers lightning-fast tracking performance and previously impossible sound-making capabilities. It features two independent synthesizer sound engines, each loaded with over 900 of Roland's latest sounds, including pianos, organs, strings, vintage and modern synths, percussion, and many more. A third sound engine is driven by Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM®), the guitar modeling technology behind Roland's famous VG-99 V-Guitar System. With COSM, the GR-55 can emulate electric and acoustic guitars, basses, and other instruments, as well as guitar and bass amplifiers.

The GR-55 allows players to combine all three sound engines, plus their guitar's normal input, to create any sound from the familiar to the original. An independent multi-effects processor is available for a huge array of tone-shaping options, plus global reverb, chorus, delay effects and EQ to add final sweetening to any sound.

The GR-55 puts guitarists instantly in touch with a huge library of amazing sounds, with no editing required. The onboard lineup of ready-to-use presets takes the pain out of the process, from pop to rock and beyond, with quick-access category buttons. Creating and editing sounds is a breeze for guitarists as well, thanks to a large LCD display, simple front panel, and the intuitive EZ Edit and Sound Style features. Also, onboard is a phrase looper that lets players capture on-the-fly recordings with unlimited sound-on-sound style overdubs.

The GR-55 also features a USB song player that lets users play WAV files stored on USB flash memory, and song playback can be controlled with the onboard pedals. The GR-55 also functions as an audio/MIDI interface for computers, with a rear-panel USB 2.0 port for a quick and easy connection. Users can easily integrate with their favorite digital audio workstation software, recording GR-55 sounds as audio in the DAW and using the GR-55's super-fast pitch-to-MIDI capabilities to trigger MIDI sounds such as virtual synths and samplers with their guitar.

The GR-55 is equipped with Roland's industry-standard 13-pin GK interface. To access the GR-55's enormous palette of sounds, guitarists must use an instrument equipped with a GK-compatible pickup such as Roland's GK-3 Divided Pickup, which is available with the GR-55. Sold separately, the GK-3 Divided Pickup and 15' 13-pin cable are valued at $248, but are available here for just $100 more than the synth alone! The GK-3 can be easily installed on most steel string guitars with no modification to the instrument. In addition, many different GK-ready instruments are commercially available from various top guitar manufacturers.

Order your Roland GR-55 Guitar Synthesizer With GK-3 Divided Pickup from Sam Ash Direct today with the security of our 45/60 day return/price protection policy, and be sure to take advantage of our fast, free shipping.

I've had my eye on Roland guitar synths for a while now I finally took home a unit 2 weeks ago to try it. I admit it was a bit time consuming to affix the pickup since you have to adjust, position then fine tune to get an optimal sound. However it does put out awesome synth melodic sounds & combining that with COSM guitar effects plus normal guitar output provides a thick, rich fused sound. It is also fortunate that I have acoustic, tube amps & a PA because it helps to try it in all kinds of media. The best sound produced is a combination of a PA for the 2 synth engines & a tube amp for the COSM & normal guitar output although I can get by with a 2 channel acoustic amp & tube amp. The unit also works well with my DAW, loop & voice harmony stomp pedals. I used to play regularly with a band so combining all my gizmos doesn't make up for that but it's good enough to entertain me at home. GR 55 is worth checking out!